WO2001023240A1

WO2001023240A1 - Trailer combination and trailer for a perambulator

Info

Publication number: WO2001023240A1
Application number: PCT/NL2000/000494
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rogeer Jozef Deroost; Lucien Marie Cornelis Joseph Konings
Original assignee: Studera N.V.
Priority date: 1999-08-12
Filing date: 2000-07-13
Publication date: 2001-04-05
Also published as: AU6029100A

Abstract

The invention relates to a trailer combination for coupling of a trailer to a hand-pushed carriage, in particular a child's perambulator or pushchair. Such a trailer combination is known from WO/EP98/06184. The trailer combination according to the invention is characterized in that the tilt limiter is adjustable for adjustment of a maximum angle of tilt of the hand-pushed carriage relative to the trailer, which maximum angle of tilt allows travel over a ground level difference to be selected with all wheels of the trailer and the hand-pushed carriage resting on the ground.

Description

TRAILER COMBINATION AND TRAILER FOR A PERAMBULATOR

The invention relates to a trailer combination for coupling of a trailer to a hand-pushed carriage, in particular a child's perambulator or pushchair, as according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a trailer combination is known from WO/EP98/06184.

The trailer combination according to the invention as described in claim 1 limits backward tipping-over ofthe hand-pushed carriage, so that a child present therein is prevented from falling out, while on the other hand the necessary tilting movement is allowed during travel over obstacles such as kerbs.

A trailer provided with such a trailer combination can be coupled to many different hand- pushed carriages, with the stated advantages of safety and travel comfort.

Further developed trailer combinations are described in dependent claims and in the following description with reference to drawings, in which: figures 1 and 2 show perspective views of trailer combinations according to the invention: figure 3 shows a schematic view of a fraction of a trailer combination with a coupling according to the invention on uneven ground surface; figure 4 is a side view in collapsed situation of the hand-pushed carriage of figure 2; figure 5 is an exploded view of the trailer of figures 1 and 2 with a coupling device according to the invention; figure 6 shows detail VI of figure 5 on larger scale; figures 7 and 8 show cross-sections along plane VII- VII respectively VIII- VIII of figure 6; figure 9 shows a view of the tilt limiter of the coupling device of figure 6 in two different positions; figure 10 shows a cross-section along line X-X of figure 5; figures 11-15 show diverse views of another embodiment of the tilt limiter; figures 16 and 17 show a top and side view of an alternative embodiment of a trailer according to the invention; figure 18 shows a cross-section along line XVIII-XVIII of figure 16; figures 19-21 show cross-sections ofthe mounting of a preferred embodiment of a trailer according to the invention on a rear leg of a hand-pushed carriage; figure 22 shows a cross-section of a variant ofthe mounting shown in figure 20; and figures 23-25 show cross-sections through yet another variant ofthe mounting according to the invention.

Each trailer combination 1 of figures 1 and 2 pushed forward in arrow direction 41 comprises a hand-pushed carriage 2 with at least one handle 3 and a frame 4, in addition to a trailer 7 which is coupled thereto by means of a coupling device 16 comprising mounting arms 23 fixedly connected to rear legs 17. Trailer 7 is connected to arms 23 for pivoting on a horizontal transverse axis 19. The axis 19 preferably lies only a small distance behind the vertical transverse plane through the support position of rear wheels 20 of hand-pushed carriage 2, but preferably in this plane or even in front of it, in order to reduce the tendency ofthe light hand-pushed carriage 2 to tip over backward.

In the trailer combination 1 of figure 2 the trailer 7 is coupled to the rear legs 17 ofthe hand-pushed carriage 2 embodied as collapsible child's pushchair. All frame elements extending in transverse direction can herein be folded or creased such that both front legs 22 and both rear legs 17 can be moved toward each other to effect the collapsed situation of figure 4. A trailer 7 can nevertheless still be coupled hereto, this by means of a coupling device 16 comprising a coupling arm 23 fixed to each rear leg 17 by means of a clamp 24 and a V-shaped spring 25 which is built into trailer 7 and of which both outwardly resilient spring arms 26 are placed through transverse slots 27 ofthe front edge 28 of the triangular load carrier 6 and each of which have spot- welded thereon a pivot pin 29 with a hook 41 which engages through a key hole 30 of a coupling arm 23.

A bolt 31 protrudes through the rear part of load carrier 6 into the fork 12 and encloses spring 25. By squeezing the spring arms 26 toward each other the hooks 29 can be released from key holes 30 and trailer 7 can thus be disconnected. The hand-pushed carriage 2 can then be folded up.

According to the invention the coupling device 16 comprises at least one tilt limiter 35, although preferably one on each side of trailer combination 1, i.e. on each spring arm 26. Tilt limiter 35 is for instance a plate with a slotted hole 43 which receives pivot pin 29 and with a slotted hole 44 which receives a socket-head screw 46 which is screwed fixedly into a threaded hole 61 of spring arm 26 for firm attachment of tilt limiter 35 to spring arm 26 with interposing of a toothed spring washer 54. During assembly of coupling device 16 the front wheels 40 of hand-pushed carriage 2 are placed a selected level difference H higher than the other wheels 11 and 20 (figure 3), while both bolts 46 are not yet tightened. Both tilt limiters 35 are then pushed with their stop members 51 as according to arrow 55 against mounting arms 23, whereafter tilt limiters 35 are secured in this position by firmly tightening bolts 46. The trailer combination can thus travel freely over somewhat uneven ground. The stop member 51 first comes into operation after tilting ofthe hand-pushed carriage through the adjusted angle of tilt P if for instance a child standing on trailer 7 pulls the hand-pushed carriage 2 towards himself or if trailer 7 is too heavily loaded. Tipping over backwards of hand-pushed carriage 2 and associated injuries to the baby and the child standing on the trailer are thus avoided.

Each stop member 51 can preferably be taken out of its stop position by manipulation. For this purpose this member consists for instance of a pin slidable as according to arrow 57 in a slide-in slot 58 of tilt limiter 35 counter to the spring action of a spring 56. The spring 56 engages for instance with a hairpin curve 64 into a groove 65 of stop member 51 and on the other side with a bent end 59 through a hole 60 of tilt limiter 35. When stop member 51 is pressed in, the trailer 7 can be pivoted upward on axis 19 past coupling arms 23, whereafter the trailer can be left with the arms 26 and the tilt limiters 35 in the position drawn in dashed lines in figure 9.

Similarly to the tilt limiter 35 of figures 6-9, the tilt limiter 35 according to figures 1 1-15 has a plate with a slotted hole 43 which receives a pivot pin 29 as well as a slotted hole 44 which receives a socket-head screw 46. A stop member 66 is also present. Tilt limiter 35 according to figures 11-15 is the mirror image of that in figures 6-9 in the sense that the possible rotation angle round axis 19 is considerably enlarged so that trailer 7 is pivotable upward past coupling arms 23.

The trailer combination 71 of figures 16-21 shows a trailer 77 with two coupling members 93 which are connected by coupling devices 86 to two rear legs 87 of a possible hand- pushed carriage. Two coupling members 93 are connected to coupling devices 86 by two serrated nuts 68 of load receiver 76 of a trailer 77.

The serrated nut 68 fits into a tooth wheel 69 (see figure 18a, cross-section from figure 18) with teeth 70 of a shaft 171 of a stop 172 of coupling member 93. Coupling member 93 is under tension of a spring 173 and has a screw 175 which urges coupling member 93 in the direction of arrow 178. The teeth 69 and 70 are blocked close to a screw 174. Coupling members 93 show that the engagement of trailer 77 on the hand-pushed carriage is located as closely as possible to the hand-pushed carriage.

The clamps 94 engage on the two rear legs 87. In order to attach at least one clamp 94 each rear leg 87 must be provided with a protrusion 185. An elastic element.180 is enclosed between a U-shaped member 182 by means of a screw 183 and a nut 184. Protrusion 185 with teeth 187 meshes with teeth 188 of tilt limiter 186. With screw 189 the protrusion 185 is fixed in the passage 101 of tilt limiter 186. The end 193 of coupling member 93 drops into tilt limiter 186. By displacing coupling member 93 counter to the force of spring 173 the tilt limiter 186 can be displaced over an angle Y in a range f 1 to make it possible to move off a pavement. In this way a child on trailer 7 and/or the baby in the hand-pushed carriage is prevented from falling or being otherwise injured. Coupling member 93 is limited in its stroke to the angle Y. The wedge-shaped angle Y is adjustable by means of tilt limiter 186 which co-acts with adjusting screws 189. The angle Y is adjusted subject to the value H (figure 3) and the desired angle of tilt P. A universal, adjustable coupling is therefore obtained. In order to fold trailer 76 upward against the rear legs 87 ofthe hand- pushed carriage the coupling member 93 is pulled out in sideward direction counter to the action ofthe spring 173 in the direction 199, so that the coupling member 93 is released from the stop rl and can carry a stop member q upward. After coupling member 93 is released it comes under the influence of spring 173, with which for instance a path u and a stop rl are set into a rest position. In order to increase the universal nature ofthe coupling the stroke rl which can be executed by coupling member 93 can also be changed into an executable stroke r2. This stroke is adjustable in that the tilt limiter 186 is rotatable, for instance 180° (see figure 21), so that due to stop member q the angle range becomes X.

It is also possible for two symmetrical tilt limiters 186 to co-act such that even more working angles can be chosen (S<Z<X<V (figures 21 and 25)) for adjustment ofthe maximum upward pivoted position.

Figure 22 (drawing figures 11-21) shows yet another embodiment of tilt limiter 186, in which this latter is embodied as a smooth sleeve, the angular position of which can be fixed by the bolt 189.

Figures 23-25 show yet another variant of the tilt limiter in which a protrusion 281 with teeth 288 engages in an adjustable orientation (angular position) into a holder body 287 provided with an internal toothing. With a screw 289 the protrusion 281 is fixed to or released from holder body 287 such that protrusion 281 can be removed from holder body 287 in order to be re-placed in holder body 287 in a changed orientation (in particular after angular displacement). It is herein noted that protrusion 281 as shown in figure 24 is provided in practice with a number of teeth 288 larger than the number shown. A larger number of teeth 288 simplifies the adjustment options wherein particularly favourable results are achieved with 20 to 40 teeth 288 on protrusion 281. The same is also the case for the number of teeth 187 of tilt limiter 186 as shown in figure 20. The end of the coupling member 26 drops into protrusion 281. By displacing coupling member 26 the protrusion 281 can be displaced through the angle Y. Coupling member 26 is limited in its stroke to the angle Y. The wedge-shaped angle Y is adjustable by means of protrusion 281 , which co-acts with adjusting screws 289. The angle Y is adjusted subject to the value H (figure 3) and the desired angle of tilt P. A universal, adjustable coupling is therefore obtained. In order to increase the universal nature of the coupling even further than in the embodiments shown in foregoing figures, the stroke rl which can be executed by protrusion 281 can also be changed into an executable stroke r2. This stroke is adjustable in that protrusion 281 is rotatable and can be fixed in an orientation to be chosen from four preferred settings (see figure 25), so that the angle range is limited to S,Z,V or X by stop members q.

Claims

1. Trailer combination (1 ,71) for coupling a trailer (7,77) to a hand-pushed carriage (2), in particular a child's perambulator or pushchair, which coupling device (16,86) comprises at least one tilt limiter (35,186), characterized in that the tilt limiter (35,186) is adjustable for adjustment of a maximum angle of tilt (P) ofthe hand-pushed carriage (2) relative to the trailer (7,77), which maximum angle of tilt (P) allows travel over a ground level difference (H) to be selected with all wheels (11,20,40) ofthe trailer (7,77) and the hand-pushed carriage (2) resting on the ground.

2. Trailer combination (1,71) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a pavement height is chosen as ground level difference (H).

3. Trailer combination (1,71) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the selected ground level difference (H) lies between 5 and 20 cm, preferably between 6 and 17 cm and more preferably between 8 and 14 cm.

4. Trailer combination (1,71) as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that at least one arm (26) ofthe trailer (7) comprises a tilt limiter (35) which is to be fixed thereon in the adjusted position and which has a slotted hole (43) for receiving a pivot pin (29) for tiltable mutual connection of the hand-pushed carriage (2) and the trailer (7), in addition to a slotted hole (44) for receiving a fastening member (46) fastening the tilt limiter (35) to the arm (26).

5. Trailer combination (1,71) as claimed in any ofthe foregoing claims, characterized by at least one stop member (51 ,q) which can be taken out of the stop position by manipulation and which, after the trailer (7,77) has been pivoted upward relative to the hand-pushed carriage (2), secures the trailer (7,77) in upward pivoted position.

6. Trailer combination (1,71) as claimed in any ofthe foregoing claims, characterized in that the stop member (51,q) is displaceable counter to the spring action out ofthe path of the element (23,93) ofthe coupling device (86) co-acting therewith.

7. Trailer combination (71) as claimed in any ofthe foregoing claims, characterized in that at least one coupling member (93) ofthe trailer (77) comprises a coupling device (86) for fixing to the rear legs (87) and having a tilt limiter (186) connected adjustably thereto.

8. Trailer combination (71) as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the tilt limiter (186) is located on the side ofthe coupling member (93) remote from the trailer (77).

9. Trailer combination (71) as claimed in claim 7 or 8, characterized in that outer ends (193) ofthe coupling members (93) are rotatable in limited manner relative to the tilt limiter (186), which tilt limiter (186) is connectable at an adjustable angular position to the coupling device (86).

10. Trailer combination (71) as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that for fixing of the tilt limiter (186) in an adjustable angular position a toothing (188) forming part ofthe tilt limiter (186) engages on a toothing (187) connected to the coupling device (86).

1 1. Trailer combination (71) as claimed in any ofthe claims 7-10, characterized in that the trailer (77) is displaceable from an active position to an upward pivoted position by- disconnecting the tilt limiter (186) and the coupling member (93), for instance by means of pulling the coupling member (93) out of the tilt limiter (186) counter to a bias.

12. Trailer combination (71) as claimed in any of the claims 7-1 1, characterized in that the tilt limiter (186) is provided with a plurality of stops limiting the working angle, wherein the maximum angle of displacement (S,V,Z,X) ofthe trailer (77) is determined by adjusting the angular position ofthe tilt limiter (186).

13. Trailer (7,77) such as forms part of the trailer combination (71 ) as claimed in any of the foregoing claims.